Senior Highs (Cheer)
Grades 9-12

Our senior high fellowship group meets every Sunday from approx. 6:45 to 8:45 p.m. in the Undercroft. We have a community of youth which come from many diverse backgrounds. CHEER focuses on intrapersonal and interpersonal spiritual growth by offering teens opportunities to do local mission work, participate in weekend retreats, develop a sense of social responsibility through community service and meet weekly in small and large groups to discuss issues relevant to their age-group. In addition, we do stuff that’s FUN! We go places, we play games, go skiing, bowling, sledding, etc. all sorts of great stuff youth love. We also take day trips to local attractions for fun and fellowship and each summer, we go on a canoe trip to Canada. Friends and visitors are always welcome!

All Youth Department activities schedule

Long Beach Mississippi
June 2006

The senior high youth group was in Long Beach for eight days in mid-June helping with the hurricane recovery effort. We were joined by youth and adults from Church of the Covenant, totaling 54 people. This was the first disaster relief experience for either youth group. During the week we hammered, framed homes, wrapped, painted, insulated, dry walled, installed windows and doors, roofed, cleared debris, and learned the basics of power tools. We also worked at Katrina’s Kitchen, an ecumenical soup kitchen, serving around 3,000 meals each day. We stayed at a church whose Session, in one meeting, switched the congregation from a local church to a mission church serving relief groups from all over the United States. We had devotions led by a different group each evening. On the return trip, we visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. We also spent over 40 hours on a motor coach. This is a small snapshot of our week.

While in Mississippi, the disaster became personal. We saw vast destruction and enormous needs. We also met warm, caring individuals who have suffered greatly, individually and as a community. And, who welcomed us like family – sharing their stories, sharing their hopes and dreams for a devastated community, sharing lemonade and popsicles and ice cream cakes. You may know the hurricane by the name “Katrina,” but we know it as Pam, Justin, Ann, Kenny G., Sue, Don, Gary, Sunshine, Terry, and Chris.

2005 Summer Mission Trip to NYC
New York City Mission Trip Participants Share Their Experiences

August 7-13, 2005 15 high school students and four adult advisors drove to New York City for the annual mission trip.  This urban mission immersion experience was possible thanks to Fairmount members’ generous support of youth fundraising events throughout the year. The group stayed at West Park Presbyterian Church and worked together with Youth Services Opportunities Program (YSOP), which seeks to introduce youth to issues of domestic poverty. YSOP provides connections to several urban service projects which catered to low-income residents and the homeless of New York City .

From 8 AM until 5 PM the first 4 days students split into work groups and spread out around the city to work alongside volunteers at soup kitchens (some places served over 1,100 meals a day), sort donated furniture for families coming out of shelters, and organize donated clothing for many in need.  They worked into the night as well. One evening they had the privilege of preparing and serving a meal to guests of YSOP and enjoyed their company during the meal, and talking with participants at a men's drop-in center. Another evening they took part in the Midnight Run from 10 PM – 2 AM . They delivered meals, along with personal care items and clothing donated by Fairmount, to people living on the city streets.  One of the highlights included meeting 'Mike the Poet' who held the group spellbound with his poetry for nearly a half an hour on the steps of a church on West Central Park at 11:00 PM.

The group ended the week with a day at The United Nations -- made possible through the Presbyterian National Office in New York .  The day included a tour and hands-on activities related to poverty, and an introduction to the U.N.’s Millenium Goals, a plan to reduce poverty worldwide by half as well as address issues of literacy, education and infant mortality. This experience helped put the entire week in perspective as well as provided food for thought regarding each of our commitment as a church community to those in the United States and throughout the world.  

The many first-hand experiences allowed every member of the group to put a face and a name to those living in poverty or who are homeless and gave everyone the chance to meet many generous and caring people who gave of their time in service to others.  Throughout the week the group explored the Golden Rule -- 'Love thy neighbor as thyself' -- and helped everyone gain a better understanding of who our "neighbors" truly are."

Comments from the students:

• "It's not just homeless people out there, its people who are homeless."
  

• “At the United Nations we learned a good deal about global poverty and hunger and were introduced to the Millennium Development Goals. The goals are admirable and I personally feel it’s important for everyone to know about them. Hopefully we as a congregation will be able to do something to help the goals be met.”
  

• “I hope we can do more to fight hunger in the Cleveland area.”

Trip participants were Hartley Brody, Tom Chokel, Kelly Eisele, Greg Fisher, Emily George, Helen Hollis, Gus Keller, Laura Kordalski, James Litteral, Katie Poseidon, Rachel Petrey, Mike Scott, Kevin Seekely, Taylor Smith and Allison Vitkus. Adult advisors were Chris Keller, Joy McGuire, Brendan Pham and Vanessa Whiting.